For an IV set to infuse at 42 mL/hr with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL, what is the flow rate in gtt/min?

To determine the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min) when the IV is set to infuse at a rate of 42 mL/hr with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL, the calculation involves a few straightforward steps.

First, convert the infusion rate from mL/hr to mL/min. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, you divide the hourly rate by 60:

42 mL/hr ÷ 60 min/hr = 0.7 mL/min.

Next, to find the flow rate in drops per minute, multiply the mL/min by the drop factor:

0.7 mL/min × 15 gtt/mL = 10.5 gtt/min.

Since flow rates are typically rounded to the nearest whole number in clinical practice, this would round down to 10 gtt/min.

Therefore, the flow rate calculated aligns perfectly with the second option, confirming its status as the correct answer.